WSYT

WSYT is the Fox-affiliated television station for Central Upstate New York that is licensed to Syracuse. It broadcasts a 720p high definition digital signal on UHF channel 19 (or virtual channel 68.1 via PSIP) from a transmitter near Maple Grove, a hamlet of Otisco. Owned by Northwest Broadcasting, WSYT operates MyNetworkTV affiliate WNYS-TV (owned by Syracuse Broadcasting, Inc.) through a local marketing agreement (LMA).

The two stations share studios together on James Street/NY 290 in Syracuse's Near Northeast section. It operates a digital Class A repeater, W16AX-D, in Ithaca. This broadcasts a 720p high definition signal on UHF channel 16 (also remapping to virtual channel 68.1 via PSIP) from a transmitter, on the Ithaca College campus, along NY 96B in Eastern South Hill.

History

The station was originally assigned the call letters WKAF and was on UHF channel 62 rather than 68. After being reassigned to channel 68, the owners of WKAF (Channel 62 Inc.) got the station on-the-air February 15, 1986 and the outlet aired religious programming for three hours a day. The station was sold to The Flatley Company in late-1986 at which point construction of its facility on James Street in Syracuse began. WSYT began full-time operation on April 5, 1987 with a general entertainment format of cartoons, classic sitcoms, recent sitcoms, movies, drama shows, and sports. The premiere of WSYT coincided with the prime time launch of the Fox network of which the station has been an affiliate with ever since.